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Since so many folks know about Purdue OWL, I wanted to share this APA style guide. It is less comprehensive, but more user-friendly -- high school, undergrad? On resource they provide is this APA short research paper guide. , which is basically a model for a (very) short paper. It includes course and instructor information, and I wonder what people here might think. I'm considering using it in a class I am teaching next term at the community college. (Michael Connor)
ECorrections to the 6th edition -- I found this through the Purdue OWL. The document is from APA and shows the correct examples of sample papers that were incorrect in the first printing of the book: http://supp.apa.org/style/pubman-reprint-corrections-for-2e.pdf (LIsa Hatfield)
• Font size: 12 Font (Danielle) (These are required/recommended) (Rurik) Pretty much if you do not use the recommendations then you will not have the respect or attention of editors or readers. The reason I say that these are recommended is that certain journals have asked for different font sizes based on ADA issues (Rurik).
• Font type: Times New Roman (These are required/recommended) (Rurik) When I say these are recommended they included a few other fonts but Times New Roman is the preferred. I think Times New Roman is an interesting choice. A few of my colleagues who work with students with visual disabilities have told me that sans serif fonts are preferred -- Times New Roman is a serif font. These comments are anecdotal, and I don't have any research handy that supports this, but it does raise the question about overall accessibility (such as the impact of type color on readability). (Lisa Hatfield.) @Lisa I ran into the same thing. I actually was asked to submit some work in Georgia because of how the font dealt with numbers. Still APA is the typical requirement (Rurik). This is very interesting. Wonder if an email inquiry at APA is worth it. swapna
• Line spacing: Double-space between all text lines within your main paper. Double-space after every line for the title, headings, quotations, references, and figures/tables. (Donna)
Line Spacing Exceptions:
Triple or quadruple spacing in special circumstances such as immediately before and after a displayed equation.
Single or one-and-a-half spacing in tables or figures. (Diana)
• Margin(s) "Leave uniform margins of at least 1 in. (2.54 cm) at the top, bottom, left, and right of every page." Doing so gives readers an idea of how long the article will be due to the consistency of the format. (Matt)
• Iine length and alignment
-The length of each typed line is maximum of 6.5 in. (16.51 cm). -Don't use the word-processing feature to make all line the same length. Use the flush-left style and leave the right margin ragged. -Don't divide words at the end of a line. (Li )
• Spelling check An electronic spelling check cannot take the place of proofreading the article. Words spelled correctly may not be used correctly. (Li )
Also, Franzen (2012) recommends verifying spelling for all proper nouns; adding a letter, or jumbling a name can call a writer's credibility into question.
• Header Because pages may be separated during the editorial process, each page should be identified with a running head (which is an abbreviated title no longer than 50 characters, including letters, punctuation, and spaces between words) along with the page number. The running head title should be flush left and in all uppercase letters. The page number should be flush right and in Arabic numerals (except for artwork and figures). The running header should not include the author's name due to the potential for blind review. The header should be generated by the header function in the word-processor. It should not be typed manually on each page. (Matt) While Parker gives an extensive account of APA header formatting, Franzen (2012) says that "getting to know how to set up the document so that page numbers begin where you want them to will save time." He goes on to advise writers to make a cheat sheet to avoid rummaging around the menus and submenus for the right commands.
• Footer - a line or block of text appearing at the bottom of each page of a book or document; usually a footnote in reference to a statement from the document; or the page number. (Kirk)
• Page number -The pages should be numbered starting with the title page. The number appears in the upper right hand corner of the header. All pages get numbered. - Kate Use automatic functions to generate headers and pay numbers. (Li ) • What are the four major sections of a paper? -
The four major sections are: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References. (Kate)
• What is a RUNNING HEAD? - Running head is an abbreviated title and printed at the top of each page with numbers. The head should be 50 characters maximum. (Sujin) - On the title page the running head should be titled "Running head:" For example the title page may say Running head: METAMORPHOSIS OF A BUTTERFLY" The following pages would not include "Running head:" For example, page 2 on: METAMORPHOSIS OF A BUTTERFLY (Kate)
While APA calls for a running head without the author name for blind review purposes, our professors have asked us to include our last name in our running heads to help them keep track of whose paper they are reading. (Karen)
• Title Page - The title should be typed in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered between the left and right margins, and positioned in the upper half of the page.(Marie)
- Title Page include three elements: (Sujin) 1) Running head for publication- Use all upper case letters, do not exceed 50 characters. 2) Title- If the title is two or more lines, double-space between the lines. 3) Byline and institutional affiliation- Type the names of the authors in the order of their contributions, centered, one double-spaced line below the title. Institutional affiliation should be centered under the author's name on the next line.
• Abstract (especially word limits) - Word limits vary from journal to journal but typically range from 150 to 250(Marie)
-Type the abstract itself as a single paragraph without paragraph indentation. (Li)
• Capitalization In a reference list, the first word of an article title is capitalized as is the first word after a colon in an article title. The rest of the article title is not capitalized (this goes a everything you've been taught about capitalizing words in titles!). Example:
Brown, R.S., & Conley, D.T. (2007). Comparing state high school assessments to standards for success in entry-level university courses. Educational Assessment, 12(2), 137-160. doi: 10.1080/10627190701232811. (Lisa Hatfield)
Headers, however, do use traditional capitalization. Capital on each major word of the subheading. (Mary)
• In-text citation Capitalize proper nouns - names and initials: R. Nackerud. If you refer to the title of a source:
capitalize all words that are four letters long or greater Teaching and Learning (and is lowercase)
Exceptions: short words that are verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs... Teaching Is Learning (Is is upper case as it is a verb).
References list: only the first word of a title will be capitalized: Teaching and learning or Teaching is learning.
Capitalizing titles:
hyphenated compound word: Game-Based Learning. (word after the hyphen is uppercase)
First word after a dash or colon: "Game-Based Learning: The Case for Use" (without the colon "The" would be lower case)
Italics or Quotation Marks? Italicize or underline the titles of longer works
books
edited collections
movies
television series
documentaries
albums
ex: The End of Game-Based Learning in Decontextualized Environments for Pedagogical Social Change
Quotation marks: shorter works
Journal articles
Articles from edited collections
television series episodes
song titles
ex: "Games-Based Learning at School" or "I'm the One That's Cool"
(Rurik Nackerud)
- Do not use italics: common foreign phrases and abbreviations (a priori, ad lib), chemical and trigonometric terms (NaCl, log), mathematical expressions, greek letters, mere emphasis (not), letters used as abbreviations (reaction time (RT)). (Sujin).
• Quotations (short) Always provide the author, year and specific page citation or paragraph number. If there are less than 40 words in a quotation, then include it in the text and enclose the quotation with double quotation marks.(Li Xiang)
EXAMPLE:
"Constructivism is a much-cited theory of learning, but to offer a metaphor to explain it would, ironically, provide probable cause to the APA's style police to perform an invasive search of the author's closet" (Franzen, 2012, p. 173).
• Quotations (long) If there are 40 or more than 40 words in a quotation, put it in a separate block of text and omit the quotation marks. -Start the block on a new line -Indent the block about a half inch from the left margin. -If there are other paragraphs, indent the first line of each an additional half inch.
-Double space the block quotation.
-At the end, cite the quoted source, the page, paragraph number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark. (Li Xiang)
*Changing Quotations Direct quotation may not be changed, even if the original source has made a mistake with grammar, spelling or punctuation. If there is a error in the original source that might confuse that reader, insert the word sic, italicized and bracketed, immediately after the error. Example: "He was abducted by a giant cefalopod [sic]" (Fremont, 1965, p. 30).
You can change the first letter of the first word in the quote to an uppercase or a lowercase to make it fit the rest of the sentence, without noting or explaining that you have done this. (Meredith)
* Citations within Quotations
Do not skip citations embedded within material you are quoting. The works cited within your quotation don't have to be included in Reference List unless you're using it as a primary source somewhere else.
Example:
Think 2012 will serve as a working document for collecting our knowledge (Mukhopadhyay, 2012). Wikis have proven useful in the past for collaborative efforts. (Justin)
According to XXX (2012), "Think 2012 will serve as a working document for collecting our knowledge (Mukhopadhyay, 2012). Wikis have proven useful in the past for collaborative efforts." (p.21) (Yen-Ling Wang)
Direct Quotations of Online Material without Pagination
Credit direct quotations of online material by giving the author, year, and page number in parentheses. Many electronic sources do not provide page numbers. If paragraph numbers are visible, use them in place of page numbers. Use the abbreviations para.
Example:
Gabor and Frazier (2007) went so far as to suggest the need for a new "intellectual framework in which to consider the nature and form of regulation in cyberspace" (para. 4). (Justin)
Citations within Quotations
Do not omit citations embedded within the original material you are quoting. The works cited need not be included in the list of references (unless you happen to cite them as a primary source elsewhere in your paper).
Example:
"In the United States, the American Cancer Society (2007) estimated that about 1 million cases of NMSC and 59,940 cases of melanoma would be diagnosed in 2007, with melanoma resulting in 8,110 deaths" (Miller et al., 2009, p. 209). (Justin)
Citing Specific Parts of a Source To cite a specific part of a source, indicate the page, chapter, figure, table, or equation at the appropriate point in text. Always give page numbers for quotations (see section 6.03 in manual). Note that page, not chapter, is abbreviated in such a text citations:
Example: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005, p. 10) (Shimamura, 1989, Chapter) (Justin)
• References - a list at the end of journal articles that provide the information necessary to identify and retrieve each source
-include only the sources you used in the research
-APA journals and other journals using APA style generally require reference lists, not bibliographies
-list be double-spaced and entries have hanging indent
-do not include personal communications, i.e. letters, memoranda, and informal electronic communications
-cite personal communications only in text, (page 180). -Kirk
• How do you cite a book that was translated into English (include translator?) General Format In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation) In-Text Citation (Quotation):(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation, page number) References (Quotation):Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book title: Subtitle (TranslatorFirst Initial. Second Initial. Surname, Trans.). Place of Publication: Publisher.(Original work published Year). ExampleIn-Text Citation (Paraphrase):(Laplace, 1814/1951) In-Text Citation (Quotation):(Laplace, 1814/1951, p. 148) References:Laplace, P. S. (1951). A philosophical essay on probabilities (F. W. Truscott &F. L. Emory, Trans.). New York, NY: Dover. (Original work published 1814). (Karen) •• In-text citation of author(s) The basics: each in-text citation requires the author's last name, and the year of the source's publication in a parenthetical citation. Examples: Kpadanou (2011) found that students who had younger siblings spent on average 5 hours less on homework each week. or A recent study showed that students who had younger siblings spent less time on homework (Kpadanou, 2011). If there is no author or an anonymous author, use the first few words of the work's title, or whatever comes first in the reference entry, and the year. Italicize the title of a periodical, book, brochure or report, and use quotation marks around the title of an article, chapter or web page. Example: Some climatologists attributed the superstorm to climate change ("Is Global Warming Really a Thing?", 2010). --Meredith
•• Same author more than once . For example, Piaget, 1964; Piaget; 1973; Piaget; 1972, Piaget , 1970 1) Give authors' surnames once and give only the date. Arrange by year of publication.Then, place in-press citations last. Example: Play is an activity for pleasure (Piaget, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1973, in press) 2) Works by same author with the same publication date by the suffixes a,b,c, after the year. Example: Several studies (Piaget, 1964 a, 1964 b, in press)
-Sujin (6.16, page 178)
•• Author with a coauthor. For example, Piaget & Inhelder, 1967; Piaget & Garcia, 1989; Piaget, 1952 When there are two authors, you cite both names every time the reference occurs in text. If a work has 3-5 authors, cite all of the authors the first time the reference occurs; in following citations, include only the surname of the first author followed by et al. (not italicized and with a period after al) and the year if it is the first citation of the reference within a paragraph. (6.12 page 175) Lisa Mc
Also, you use the & symbol in the citation but use "and" if citing in text. Example
Piaget and Inhelder believe....(1967) or Developmental psycologists have found...(Piaget & Inhelder, 1967) Frank
• Reference List: Other Print sources (Give as many examples as possible)
An Entry in an Encyclopedia
Bergmann, P. G. (1993). Relativity. In The New Encyclopedia Britannica. (Vol. 26, pp. 501-508). Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica.
Work Discussed in a Secondary Source
List the source the work was discussed in:
Coltheart, M., Curtis, B., Atkins, P., & Haller, M. (1993). Models of reading aloud: Dual-route and parallel distributed-processing approaches. Psychological Review, 100, 589-608. NOTE: Give the secondary source in the references list; in the text, name the original work, and give a citation for the secondary source. For example, if Seidenberg and McClelland's work is cited in Coltheart et al. and you did not read the original work, list the Coltheart et al. reference in the References. In the text, use the following citation:
In Seidenberg and McClelland's study (as cited in Coltheart, Curtis, Atkins, & Haller, 1993), ...
Dissertation Abstract
Yoshida, Y. (2001). Essays in urban transportation. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62, 7741A.
Dissertation, Published
Lastname, F. N. (Year). Title of dissertation. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Name of database. (Accession or Order Number)
Dissertation, Unpublished
Lastname, F. N. (Year). Title of dissertation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Name of Institution, Location.
Government Document
National Institute of Mental Health. (1990). Clinical training in serious mental illness (DHHS Publication No. ADM 90-1679). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (Karen)
• Reference List: Electronic sources - Citing a personal communication in text - this may include private letters, emails, memos, personal interviews, phone calls, as well as other electronic communications. Write initials, surname and provide exact date if possible. For example, T.K. Lutes (personal communication, April 18, 2012) or (T.K. Lutes, personal communication, April 18, 2012). (Donna) But don't add this personal communication to the reference list because it can't be verified (do add recorded symposia available for use or archived conference documents) (Lisa H.)
This is a mistake that one sees too often. Thanks Lisa for pointing it out. swapna
• Reference List: Non-print sources
This category includes raw data and tools that aid persons in performing a task such as data analysis or measurement. Do provide reference entries for specialized software or computer programs with limited distribution.
Rightsholder, A. A. (Year). Title of program (Version number) [Description of form].
Location: Name of producer.
or
Rightsholder, A. A. (Year). Title of program [Description of form]. Retrieved from http://xxx (Justin)
• Subheadings: How many kind? What are they? How are they used? Need to know the difference between Level 1, level 2, etc.
- on page 62, book states: The heading structure for all sections follows the same top-down progression. Each section starts with the higherst level of heading, even if one section may have fewer levels of subheading than another section. There are 5 levels of heading in APA Journals: 1 - Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading. 2 - Flush Left, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading. 3 - Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. 4 - Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. 5 - Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. (Kirk)
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): Online journal articles may have a DOI assigned to them. Include this in your reference list. The DOI system provides "persistent identification for managing information on digital networks" (p. 188). If no DOI is available, use the URL. Example: Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx, pp-pp. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx Example no DOI: Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx, pp-pp. Retrieved from http://xxxxxx Remember, there are no periods after DOIs or URLs. (Lisa Hatfield) Good reminder! swapna
Writing Style:
The APA Publications Manual also speaks to Writing Style (Page 65): Continuity in Presentation of Ideas, "Readers will better understand your ideas if you aim for continuity in words, concepts, and thematic developmetn from the opening statement to the conclusion." This includes punctuation marks as well as use of consistent transitional words. Lisa McC
Wordiness: Say only what needs to be said. Wordiness (APA manual p. 67) lapses into embellishment and flowery writing. For example, change "there were several students who completed" to "several students completed." (Julie)
Continuity: One way to achieve continuity (APA manual p. 65) is through the use of transitional words that help to maintain the flow of thought. Examples are time links (while, since), cause-effect links (consequently, as a result), addition links (similarly, furthermore), and contrast links (conversely, however). (Julie)
Tone: An effective way to achieve the right tone (APA manual p. 67) is to imagine a specific reader you are intending to reach and to write in a way that will educate and persuade that individual. (Julie)
•Use of Italics
Use italics for
titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows, microfilm publications
Exception
reverse italicization - words within the title of a book that would normally be italicized should not be italicized. (Mary)
• Bias-free language Guideline 1: Use bias-free language. Have your work proof-read by someone from the targeted group to comment on the label.
- Be as specific as possible. If the study is surveying Mexican-American, state that this is the population you're working with rather than the generic term Latinos.
- Differentiate between Gender (social construction) and Sex (biological) when appropriate.
- Differences between participants such as marital status, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, etc. should only be mentioned only when relevant. Guideline 2: Respect your participants preferences and avoid labeling them when possible. Guideline 3: Write about people in your study according to established norms
- Give accurate information about the people taking part in your study
- Participants and Subjects are common terms used to describe people that take part in a research study
- Active voice is preferred to passive: "The participants completed the survey" rather than "the survey was administered to the participants."
- Key words/phrases to avoid: failed, patient management, patient placement.
(Yen-Ling Wang)
• Footnotes and Endnotes: What are these? Give examples. Footnotes and Endnotes are not typically used in APA style. Instead, use in text citation and a reference list. If a footnote or endnote is used, it is usually to explain something or a place where the author may insert an opinion about the text. If a footnote is used for explanation then it can be one of two types; content, or copyright. (Kate)
Serial Comma Used in Text:
Use a comma between elements in a series of three or more items.
height, width, and depth (a.k.a. "Oxford comma") (James)
•• Is this correct?
Grenier, L. (1998). Working with indigenous knowledge: A guide for researchers. IDRC (International Development Research Centre). I think it should have state or city and country of publication. (Mary)
Tomaselli, K.G., Dyll, L., & Francis, M. (2008). “Self” and “Other”: Auto-reflexive and indigenous ethnography. In N.K., Denzin, Y.S. Lincoln, and L.T. Smith (Eds.), Handbook of critical and indigenous methodologies. <<page numbers missing>>Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Title of journal (book) should be capitalized.(kate)
•• Is this correct?
Engeström, Y. & Sannino, A. (2012). Concept formation in the wild. Mind, Culture, and Activity, 19(3), 201‐206. No. Needs a comma after the initial Y. (Lisa H) But keep the period after the Y. (Karen)
Fauconnier, G. & Turner, M. (2002). The way we think: Conceptual blending and the
mind’s hidden complexities. New York: Basic Books. No. The title should be italicized, and there should be a comma after the first author's initial and period. (Meredith)
Greeno, J. G. (2012). Concepts in activities and discourses. Mind, Culture, and Activity,
19(3), 310‐313. No. Should read Mind, Culture, and Activity, 19 (Lisa H)
Greenwood, R. & Hinings, C. R. (1993). Understanding strategic change: The
contribution of archetypes. Academy of Management Journal, 36(5), 1052‐1081. No. Should read Academy of Management Journal, 36(5). (Matt) And comma after Greenwood, R. (Karen)
Il'enkov, E. V. (1982). The dialectics of the abstract and the concrete in Marx's Capital.
Moscow: Progress. Should be The dialectics of the abstract and the concrete in Mrx's Capital (Mary)
Kaufman, J. C. & Beghetto, C. A. (2009). Beyond big and little: The four C model of
creativity. Review of General Psychology, 13(1), 1‐12. No. Same as Greeno 2012 and Greenwood & Hinings 1993, the journal title up until the issue number should be italicized - Review of General Psychology, 13(1), 1-12. (Matt)
Kirkpatrick, I. & Ackroyd, S. (2003). Archetype theory and the changing professional
organization: A critique and alternative. Organization, 10(4), 731‐750. ---No. There should be a comma after the first author's initial and period. Journal title and the issue number should be italicized too. -Organization, 10(4), 731-750. (Li Xiang)
Kvenild, C. & Calkins, K. (Eds.) (2011). Embedded librarians: Moving beyond oneshot
instruction. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries.
Leont’ev, A. N. (1978). Activity, consciousness, and personality. Englewood Cliffs:
Prentice‐Hall.No. Title of book should be italicized. Activity, consciousness, and personality. (Sujin)
Lindgren, A. (1997). The adventures of Pippi Longstocking. New York: Viking. Should be The adventures of Pippi Longstocking. (Mary)
Mareschal, D., Quinn, P. C. & Lea, S. E. G. (Eds.) (2010). The making of human concepts.Oxford: Oxford University Press. Title should be italicized (Mary)
Melville, H. (1949). Moby Dick. New York: Simon & Schuster. No- this title should also be italicized. Moby Dick. (Marcus)
• Tables - How do you make a table? -Table Titles: brief, clear, explanatory. Abbreviations in the headings or body of a table can be parenthetically explained in the title. Explain abbreviations that requre longer explanation in a general note to the table. Don't use a specific footnote. (Li)
• Table Layout Table layout should be logical and easily understood by the reader. Comparison entries should be right next to each other. Meaning of the data should be obvious at a glance. Data can be displayed in different ways even though it is the same data. Table number at the top, flush left Table title single spaces, left flush under number General, specific and probability (in that order) notes can be placed under the table, single spaces, flush left (Mary)
• Figures/diagrams - what rules to follow? Three general considerations for use (graphs, charts, maps, drawings, etc.): 1. If a figure does not significantly enhance the understanding of the paper, it shouldn't be included. 2. Is the use of a figure the best way to transmit the information, and if so, what form should the figure take? 3. How can the figure be structured to impart the necessary information without distracting details. (KISS Rule- Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Standards for Figures
augments rather than duplicates the text
conveys only essential facts
omits visually distracting detail
is easy to read and understand
is consistent with other figures (style-wise) in the paper
reflects careful planning and preparation
includes captions and legends where appropriate (Marcus)
Roman Numeral
If Roman numeral are part of an establish terminology, do not change to Arabic numerals; for example, Project I, Project II.
Use Arabic, not Roman, numerals for routine seriation (e.g., Step 1). (Evelia)
Racial and Ethnic Identity
Preferences for terms referring to racial and ethnic groups change often. One reason for this is simply personal preferences. Another reason is that over time, designations can become dated and sometimes negative. Author are reminded to use two basic guidelines of specific and sensitivity:
Use commonly accepted designations (e.g., Census categories) while being sensitive to participants' preferred designation.
Precision is important in the description of your sample; in general, be more specific rather than use the less specific term.
Examples of designations for some ethnic groups.
Depending on where a person is fron, individuals may prefer to be called Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, or some other designation. I general, naming a country or region of origin is better (e.g., Cuban, Salvadoran, or Guatemalan is more specific than Central American or Hispanic). (Evelia)
Slash-When to use (Diana)
To cite a republished work in text Piaget (1923/1961)
When including statistics in written text, be sure to include enough information for the reader to understand the study. Although the amount of explanation and data included depends upon the study, APA Style has guidelines for the representation of statistical information:
Do not give references for statistics unless the statistic is uncommon, used unconventionally, or is the focus of the article
Do not give formulas for common statistics (i.e. mean, t test)
Do not repeat descriptive statistics in the text if they’re represented in a table or figure
Use terms like respectively and in order when enumerating a series of statistics; this illustrates the relationship between the numbers in the series.
Punctuating Statistics
Use parentheses to enclose statistical values: ...proved to be statistically significant (p = .42) with all variables.
Use parentheses to enclose degrees of freedom: t(45) = 4.35 F(3, 87) = 2.11
Use brackets to enclose limits of confidence intervals: 89% CIs [3.45, 2.7], [-6.0, 3.89], and [-7.23, 1.89]
Use standard typeface (no bolding or italicization) when writing Greek letters, subscripts that function as identifiers, and abbreviations that are not variables.
Use boldface for vectors and matrices: V, ∑
Use italics for statistical symbols (other than vectors and matrices): t, F, N
Use an italicized, uppercase N in reference to number of subjects or participants in the total sample. N = 328
Use an italicized, lowercase n in reference to only a portion of the sample. n = 42
Since so many folks know about Purdue OWL, I wanted to share this APA style guide. It is less comprehensive, but more user-friendly -- high school, undergrad? On resource they provide is this APA short research paper guide. , which is basically a model for a (very) short paper. It includes course and instructor information, and I wonder what people here might think. I'm considering using it in a class I am teaching next term at the community college. (Michael Connor)
ECorrections to the 6th edition -- I found this through the Purdue OWL. The document is from APA and shows the correct examples of sample papers that were incorrect in the first printing of the book: http://supp.apa.org/style/pubman-reprint-corrections-for-2e.pdf (LIsa Hatfield)
• Font size: 12 Font (Danielle) (These are required/recommended) (Rurik)
Pretty much if you do not use the recommendations then you will not have the respect or attention of editors or readers. The reason I say that these are recommended is that certain journals have asked for different font sizes based on ADA issues (Rurik).
• Font type: Times New Roman (These are required/recommended) (Rurik)
When I say these are recommended they included a few other fonts but Times New Roman is the preferred.
I think Times New Roman is an interesting choice. A few of my colleagues who work with students with visual disabilities have told me that sans serif fonts are preferred -- Times New Roman is a serif font. These comments are anecdotal, and I don't have any research handy that supports this, but it does raise the question about overall accessibility (such as the impact of type color on readability). (Lisa Hatfield.)
@Lisa I ran into the same thing. I actually was asked to submit some work in Georgia because of how the font dealt with numbers. Still APA is the typical requirement (Rurik).
This is very interesting. Wonder if an email inquiry at APA is worth it. swapna
• Line spacing: Double-space between all text lines within your main paper. Double-space after every line for the title, headings, quotations, references, and figures/tables. (Donna)
Line Spacing Exceptions:
• Margin(s)
"Leave uniform margins of at least 1 in. (2.54 cm) at the top, bottom, left, and right of every page." Doing so gives readers an idea of how long the article will be due to the consistency of the format. (Matt)
• Iine length and alignment
-The length of each typed line is maximum of 6.5 in. (16.51 cm).
-Don't use the word-processing feature to make all line the same length. Use the flush-left style and leave the right margin ragged.
-Don't divide words at the end of a line. (Li )
• Spelling check
An electronic spelling check cannot take the place of proofreading the article. Words spelled correctly may not be used correctly. (Li )
Also, Franzen (2012) recommends verifying spelling for all proper nouns; adding a letter, or jumbling a name can call a writer's credibility into question.
• Header
Because pages may be separated during the editorial process, each page should be identified with a running head (which is an abbreviated title no longer than 50 characters, including letters, punctuation, and spaces between words) along with the page number. The running head title should be flush left and in all uppercase letters. The page number should be flush right and in Arabic numerals (except for artwork and figures). The running header should not include the author's name due to the potential for blind review. The header should be generated by the header function in the word-processor. It should not be typed manually on each page. (Matt) While Parker gives an extensive account of APA header formatting, Franzen (2012) says that "getting to know how to set up the document so that page numbers begin where you want them to will save time." He goes on to advise writers to make a cheat sheet to avoid rummaging around the menus and submenus for the right commands.
• Footer - a line or block of text appearing at the bottom of each page of a book or document; usually a footnote in reference to a statement from the document; or the page number. (Kirk)
• Page number - The pages should be numbered starting with the title page. The number appears in the upper right hand corner of the header. All pages get numbered. - Kate
Use automatic functions to generate headers and pay numbers. (Li )
• What are the four major sections of a paper? -
The four major sections are: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References. (Kate)
• What is a RUNNING HEAD?
- Running head is an abbreviated title and printed at the top of each page with numbers. The head should be 50 characters maximum. (Sujin)
- On the title page the running head should be titled "Running head:" For example the title page may say Running head: METAMORPHOSIS OF A BUTTERFLY" The following pages would not include "Running head:" For example, page 2 on: METAMORPHOSIS OF A BUTTERFLY (Kate)
While APA calls for a running head without the author name for blind review purposes, our professors have asked us to include our last name in our running heads to help them keep track of whose paper they are reading. (Karen)
• Title Page - The title should be typed in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered between the left and right margins, and positioned in the upper half of the page.(Marie)
- Title Page include three elements: (Sujin)
1) Running head for publication- Use all upper case letters, do not exceed 50 characters.
2) Title- If the title is two or more lines, double-space between the lines.
3) Byline and institutional affiliation- Type the names of the authors in the order of their contributions, centered, one double-spaced line
below the title. Institutional affiliation should be centered under the author's name on the next line.
• Abstract (especially word limits) - Word limits vary from journal to journal but typically range from 150 to 250(Marie)
-Type the abstract itself as a single paragraph without paragraph indentation. (Li)
• Capitalization
In a reference list, the first word of an article title is capitalized as is the first word after a colon in an article title. The rest of the article title is not capitalized (this goes a everything you've been taught about capitalizing words in titles!). Example:
Brown, R.S., & Conley, D.T. (2007). Comparing state high school assessments to standards for success in entry-level university courses. Educational Assessment, 12(2), 137-160. doi: 10.1080/10627190701232811. (Lisa Hatfield)
Headers, however, do use traditional capitalization. Capital on each major word of the subheading. (Mary)
• In-text citation
Capitalize proper nouns - names and initials: R. Nackerud.
If you refer to the title of a source:
- capitalize all words that are four letters long or greater Teaching and Learning (and is lowercase)
- Exceptions: short words that are verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs... Teaching Is Learning (Is is upper case as it is a verb).
- References list: only the first word of a title will be capitalized: Teaching and learning or Teaching is learning.
Capitalizing titles:Italics or Quotation Marks?
Italicize or underline the titles of longer works
ex: The End of Game-Based Learning in Decontextualized Environments for Pedagogical Social Change
Quotation marks: shorter works
ex: "Games-Based Learning at School" or "I'm the One That's Cool"
(Rurik Nackerud)
- Do not use italics: common foreign phrases and abbreviations (a priori, ad lib), chemical and trigonometric terms (NaCl, log), mathematical expressions, greek letters, mere emphasis (not), letters used as abbreviations (reaction time (RT)). (Sujin).
• Quotations (short)
Always provide the author, year and specific page citation or paragraph number.
If there are less than 40 words in a quotation, then include it in the text and enclose the quotation with double quotation marks.(Li Xiang)
EXAMPLE:
"Constructivism is a much-cited theory of learning, but to offer a metaphor to explain it would, ironically, provide probable cause to the APA's style police to perform an invasive search of the author's closet" (Franzen, 2012, p. 173).
• Quotations (long)
If there are 40 or more than 40 words in a quotation, put it in a separate block of text and omit the quotation marks.
-Start the block on a new line
-Indent the block about a half inch from the left margin.
-If there are other paragraphs, indent the first line of each an additional half inch.
-Double space the block quotation.
-At the end, cite the quoted source, the page, paragraph number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark. (Li Xiang)
*Changing Quotations
Direct quotation may not be changed, even if the original source has made a mistake with grammar, spelling or punctuation. If there is a error in the original source that might confuse that reader, insert the word sic, italicized and bracketed, immediately after the error. Example: "He was abducted by a giant cefalopod [sic]" (Fremont, 1965, p. 30).
You can change the first letter of the first word in the quote to an uppercase or a lowercase to make it fit the rest of the sentence, without noting or explaining that you have done this.
(Meredith)
* Citations within Quotations
Do not skip citations embedded within material you are quoting. The works cited within your quotation don't have to be included in Reference List unless you're using it as a primary source somewhere else.
Example:
Think 2012 will serve as a working document for collecting our knowledge (Mukhopadhyay, 2012). Wikis have proven useful in the past for collaborative efforts. (Justin)
According to XXX (2012), "Think 2012 will serve as a working document for collecting our knowledge (Mukhopadhyay, 2012). Wikis have proven useful in the past for collaborative efforts." (p.21) (Yen-Ling Wang)
Direct Quotations of Online Material without Pagination
Credit direct quotations of online material by giving the author, year, and page number in parentheses. Many electronic sources do not provide page numbers. If paragraph numbers are visible, use them in place of page numbers. Use the abbreviations para.
Example:
Gabor and Frazier (2007) went so far as to suggest the need for a new "intellectual framework in which to consider the nature and form of regulation in cyberspace" (para. 4). (Justin)
Citations within Quotations
Do not omit citations embedded within the original material you are quoting. The works cited need not be included in the list of references (unless you happen to cite them as a primary source elsewhere in your paper).
Example:
"In the United States, the American Cancer Society (2007) estimated that about 1 million cases of NMSC and 59,940 cases of melanoma would be diagnosed in 2007, with melanoma resulting in 8,110 deaths" (Miller et al., 2009, p. 209). (Justin)
Citing Specific Parts of a Source
To cite a specific part of a source, indicate the page, chapter, figure, table, or equation at the appropriate point in text. Always give page numbers for quotations (see section 6.03 in manual). Note that page, not chapter, is abbreviated in such a text citations:
Example:
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005, p. 10)
(Shimamura, 1989, Chapter) (Justin)
• References - a list at the end of journal articles that provide the information necessary to identify and retrieve each source
-include only the sources you used in the research
-APA journals and other journals using APA style generally require reference lists, not bibliographies
-list be double-spaced and entries have hanging indent
-do not include personal communications, i.e. letters, memoranda, and informal electronic communications
-cite personal communications only in text, (page 180). -Kirk
• How do you cite a book that was translated into English (include translator?)
General Format In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation, page number)
References (Quotation):Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book title: Subtitle (TranslatorFirst Initial. Second Initial. Surname, Trans.). Place of Publication: Publisher.(Original work published Year).
ExampleIn-Text Citation (Paraphrase):(Laplace, 1814/1951)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):(Laplace, 1814/1951, p. 148)
References:Laplace, P. S. (1951). A philosophical essay on probabilities (F. W. Truscott &F. L. Emory, Trans.). New York, NY: Dover. (Original work published 1814). (Karen)
•• In-text citation of author(s)
The basics: each in-text citation requires the author's last name, and the year of the source's publication in a parenthetical citation. Examples:
Kpadanou (2011) found that students who had younger siblings spent on average 5 hours less on homework each week.
or
A recent study showed that students who had younger siblings spent less time on homework (Kpadanou, 2011).
If there is no author or an anonymous author, use the first few words of the work's title, or whatever comes first in the reference entry, and the year. Italicize the title of a periodical, book, brochure or report, and use quotation marks around the title of an article, chapter or web page.
Example:
Some climatologists attributed the superstorm to climate change ("Is Global Warming Really a Thing?", 2010).
--Meredith
•• Same author more than once . For example, Piaget, 1964; Piaget; 1973; Piaget; 1972, Piaget , 1970
1) Give authors' surnames once and give only the date. Arrange by year of publication.Then, place in-press citations last.
Example: Play is an activity for pleasure (Piaget, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1973, in press)
2) Works by same author with the same publication date by the suffixes a,b,c, after the year.
Example: Several studies (Piaget, 1964 a, 1964 b, in press)
-Sujin (6.16, page 178)
•• Author with a coauthor. For example, Piaget & Inhelder, 1967; Piaget & Garcia, 1989; Piaget, 1952
When there are two authors, you cite both names every time the reference occurs in text. If a work has 3-5 authors, cite all of the authors the first time the reference occurs; in following citations, include only the surname of the first author followed by et al. (not italicized and with a period after al) and the year if it is the first citation of the reference within a paragraph. (6.12 page 175) Lisa Mc
Also, you use the & symbol in the citation but use "and" if citing in text.
Example
Piaget and Inhelder believe....(1967)
or
Developmental psycologists have found...(Piaget & Inhelder, 1967)
Frank
• Reference List: Other Print sources (Give as many examples as possible)
An Entry in an Encyclopedia
Bergmann, P. G. (1993). Relativity. In The New Encyclopedia Britannica. (Vol. 26, pp. 501-508). Chicago, IL:
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Work Discussed in a Secondary Source
List the source the work was discussed in:Coltheart, M., Curtis, B., Atkins, P., & Haller, M. (1993). Models of reading aloud: Dual-route and parallel
distributed-processing approaches. Psychological Review, 100, 589-608.
NOTE: Give the secondary source in the references list; in the text, name the original work, and give a citation for the secondary source. For example, if Seidenberg and McClelland's work is cited in Coltheart et al. and you did not read the original work, list the Coltheart et al. reference in the References. In the text, use the following citation:
In Seidenberg and McClelland's study (as cited in Coltheart, Curtis, Atkins, & Haller, 1993), ...
Dissertation Abstract
Yoshida, Y. (2001). Essays in urban transportation. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62, 7741A.
Dissertation, Published
Lastname, F. N. (Year). Title of dissertation. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Name of database. (Accession
or Order Number)
Dissertation, Unpublished
Lastname, F. N. (Year). Title of dissertation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Name of Institution, Location.
Government Document
National Institute of Mental Health. (1990). Clinical training in serious mental illness (DHHS Publication No. ADM
90-1679). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (Karen)
• Reference List: Electronic sources -
Citing a personal communication in text - this may include private letters, emails, memos, personal interviews, phone calls, as well as other electronic communications. Write initials, surname and provide exact date if possible. For example, T.K. Lutes (personal communication, April 18, 2012) or (T.K. Lutes, personal communication, April 18, 2012). (Donna)
But don't add this personal communication to the reference list because it can't be verified (do add recorded symposia available for use or archived conference documents) (Lisa H.)
This is a mistake that one sees too often. Thanks Lisa for pointing it out. swapna
• Reference List: Non-print sources
This category includes raw data and tools that aid persons in performing a task such as data analysis or measurement. Do provide reference entries for specialized software or computer programs with limited distribution.
Rightsholder, A. A. (Year). Title of program (Version number) [Description of form].
Location: Name of producer.
or
Rightsholder, A. A. (Year). Title of program [Description of form]. Retrieved from http://xxx (Justin)
• Subheadings: How many kind? What are they? How are they used? Need to know the difference between Level 1, level 2, etc.
- on page 62, book states:
The heading structure for all sections follows the same top-down progression. Each section starts with the higherst level of heading, even if one section may have fewer levels of subheading than another section.
There are 5 levels of heading in APA Journals:
1 - Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading.
2 - Flush Left, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading.
3 - Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.
4 - Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.
5 - Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. (Kirk)
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): Online journal articles may have a DOI assigned to them. Include this in your reference list. The DOI system provides "persistent identification for managing information on digital networks" (p. 188). If no DOI is available, use the URL. Example: Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx, pp-pp. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx
Example no DOI: Author, A. (Year). Title of article. Title of periodical, xx, pp-pp. Retrieved from http://xxxxxx
Remember, there are no periods after DOIs or URLs. (Lisa Hatfield) Good reminder! swapna
Writing Style:
The APA Publications Manual also speaks to Writing Style (Page 65): Continuity in Presentation of Ideas, "Readers will better understand your ideas if you aim for continuity in words, concepts, and thematic developmetn from the opening statement to the conclusion." This includes punctuation marks as well as use of consistent transitional words. Lisa McC
Wordiness: Say only what needs to be said. Wordiness (APA manual p. 67) lapses into embellishment and flowery writing. For example, change "there were several students who completed" to "several students completed." (Julie)
Continuity: One way to achieve continuity (APA manual p. 65) is through the use of transitional words that help to maintain the flow of thought. Examples are time links (while, since), cause-effect links (consequently, as a result), addition links (similarly, furthermore), and contrast links (conversely, however). (Julie)
Tone: An effective way to achieve the right tone (APA manual p. 67) is to imagine a specific reader you are intending to reach and to write in a way that will educate and persuade that individual. (Julie)
•Use of Italics
Use italics for
titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows, microfilm publications
Exception
reverse italicization - words within the title of a book that would normally be italicized should not be italicized. (Mary)
• Bias-free language
Guideline 1: Use bias-free language. Have your work proof-read by someone from the targeted group to comment on the label.
- Be as specific as possible. If the study is surveying Mexican-American, state that this is the population you're working with rather than the generic term Latinos.
- Differentiate between Gender (social construction) and Sex (biological) when appropriate.
- Differences between participants such as marital status, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, etc. should only be mentioned only when relevant.
Guideline 2: Respect your participants preferences and avoid labeling them when possible.
Guideline 3: Write about people in your study according to established norms
- Give accurate information about the people taking part in your study
- Participants and Subjects are common terms used to describe people that take part in a research study
- Active voice is preferred to passive: "The participants completed the survey" rather than "the survey was administered to the participants."
- Key words/phrases to avoid: failed, patient management, patient placement.
(Yen-Ling Wang)
• Footnotes and Endnotes: What are these? Give examples.
Footnotes and Endnotes are not typically used in APA style. Instead, use in text citation and a reference list. If a footnote or endnote is used, it is usually to explain something or a place where the author may insert an opinion about the text. If a footnote is used for explanation then it can be one of two types; content, or copyright. (Kate)
Serial Comma Used in Text:
Use a comma between elements in a series of three or more items.
- height, width, and depth (a.k.a. "Oxford comma") (James)
•• Is this correct?Grenier, L. (1998). Working with indigenous knowledge: A guide for researchers. IDRC (International Development Research Centre). I think it should have state or city and country of publication. (Mary)
Tomaselli, K.G., Dyll, L., & Francis, M. (2008). “Self” and “Other”: Auto-reflexive and indigenous ethnography. In N.K., Denzin, Y.S. Lincoln, and L.T. Smith (Eds.), Handbook of critical and indigenous methodologies. <<page numbers missing>>Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Title of journal (book) should be capitalized.(kate)
•• Is this correct?
Engeström, Y. & Sannino, A. (2012). Concept formation in the wild. Mind, Culture, and Activity, 19(3), 201‐206. No. Needs a comma after the initial Y. (Lisa H) But keep the period after the Y. (Karen)
Fauconnier, G. & Turner, M. (2002). The way we think: Conceptual blending and the
mind’s hidden complexities. New York: Basic Books. No. The title should be italicized, and there should be a comma after the first author's initial and period. (Meredith)
Greeno, J. G. (2012). Concepts in activities and discourses. Mind, Culture, and Activity,
19(3), 310‐313. No. Should read Mind, Culture, and Activity, 19 (Lisa H)
Greenwood, R. & Hinings, C. R. (1993). Understanding strategic change: The
contribution of archetypes. Academy of Management Journal, 36(5), 1052‐1081. No. Should read Academy of Management Journal, 36(5). (Matt) And comma after Greenwood, R. (Karen)
Il'enkov, E. V. (1982). The dialectics of the abstract and the concrete in Marx's Capital.
Moscow: Progress. Should be The dialectics of the abstract and the concrete in Mrx's Capital (Mary)
Kaufman, J. C. & Beghetto, C. A. (2009). Beyond big and little: The four C model of
creativity. Review of General Psychology, 13(1), 1‐12. No. Same as Greeno 2012 and Greenwood & Hinings 1993, the journal title up until the issue number should be italicized - Review of General Psychology, 13(1), 1-12. (Matt)
Kirkpatrick, I. & Ackroyd, S. (2003). Archetype theory and the changing professional
organization: A critique and alternative. Organization, 10(4), 731‐750. ---No. There should be a comma after the first author's initial and period. Journal title and the issue number should be italicized too. -Organization, 10(4), 731-750. (Li Xiang)
Kvenild, C. & Calkins, K. (Eds.) (2011). Embedded librarians: Moving beyond oneshot
instruction. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries.
Leont’ev, A. N. (1978). Activity, consciousness, and personality. Englewood Cliffs:
Prentice‐Hall.No. Title of book should be italicized. Activity, consciousness, and personality. (Sujin)
Lindgren, A. (1997). The adventures of Pippi Longstocking. New York: Viking. Should be The adventures of Pippi Longstocking. (Mary)
Mareschal, D., Quinn, P. C. & Lea, S. E. G. (Eds.) (2010). The making of human concepts.Oxford: Oxford University Press. Title should be italicized (Mary)
Melville, H. (1949). Moby Dick. New York: Simon & Schuster. No- this title should also be italicized. Moby Dick. (Marcus)
• Tables - How do you make a table?
-Table Titles: brief, clear, explanatory. Abbreviations in the headings or body of a table can be parenthetically explained in the title. Explain abbreviations that requre longer explanation in a general note to the table. Don't use a specific footnote. (Li)
• Table Layout
Table layout should be logical and easily understood by the reader.
Comparison entries should be right next to each other.
Meaning of the data should be obvious at a glance.
Data can be displayed in different ways even though it is the same data.
Table number at the top, flush left
Table title single spaces, left flush under number
General, specific and probability (in that order) notes can be placed under the table, single spaces, flush left (Mary)
• Figures/diagrams - what rules to follow?
Three general considerations for use (graphs, charts, maps, drawings, etc.):
1. If a figure does not significantly enhance the understanding of the paper, it shouldn't be included.
2. Is the use of a figure the best way to transmit the information, and if so, what form should the figure take?
3. How can the figure be structured to impart the necessary information without distracting details. (KISS Rule- Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Standards for Figures
Roman Numeral
If Roman numeral are part of an establish terminology, do not change to Arabic numerals; for example, Project I, Project II.
Use Arabic, not Roman, numerals for routine seriation (e.g., Step 1). (Evelia)
Racial and Ethnic Identity
Preferences for terms referring to racial and ethnic groups change often. One reason for this is simply personal preferences. Another reason is that over time, designations can become dated and sometimes negative. Author are reminded to use two basic guidelines of specific and sensitivity:
Examples of designations for some ethnic groups.
Depending on where a person is fron, individuals may prefer to be called Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, or some other designation. I general, naming a country or region of origin is better (e.g., Cuban, Salvadoran, or Guatemalan is more specific than Central American or Hispanic). (Evelia)
Slash-When to use (Diana)
Statistics in APA (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/22/) (James)
When including statistics in written text, be sure to include enough information for the reader to understand the study. Although the amount of explanation and data included depends upon the study, APA Style has guidelines for the representation of statistical information:Punctuating Statistics
Use parentheses to enclose statistical values:
...proved to be statistically significant (p = .42) with all variables.
Use parentheses to enclose degrees of freedom:
t(45) = 4.35
F(3, 87) = 2.11
Use brackets to enclose limits of confidence intervals:
89% CIs [3.45, 2.7], [-6.0, 3.89], and [-7.23, 1.89]
Use standard typeface (no bolding or italicization) when writing Greek letters, subscripts that function as identifiers, and abbreviations that are not variables.
Use boldface for vectors and matrices:
V, ∑
Use italics for statistical symbols (other than vectors and matrices):
t, F, N
Use an italicized, uppercase N in reference to number of subjects or participants in the total sample.
N = 328
Use an italicized, lowercase n in reference to only a portion of the sample.
n = 42